Index card



June 27, 1933. R. G, BouRDoN INDEX CARD 2 vSheets-Sheet l Filed March 2l, 1931 June 27, 1933. R, G BOURBON 1,915,593

' INDEX CARD Filed March 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1933 nutren STATES PATENT onirica RUSSELL Gr. BOURBON, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHAW-WALKER COMPANY, OF IJIUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, A CORPOR-ATON OF MICHIGAN INDEX CARD Application filed March 21, 1931. serial No. 524,261.

This invention relates to improvements in index Cards, and more particularly to cards used in filing or card index systems as guides or partition members between alphabetic or 5 otherwise denoted divisions of the system. rlhese cards are usually of the same size as the subject or reference cards, but of astiifer and more durable paper stock, and provided along their top edges with a tab for the index 39 matter, such as letters, first syllables and names printed in bold type.

Originally these cards had plain `tabs on which the index matter was printed. Such a card could only be used in one location in l5 the tile-and would have to be discarded a change inthe method of indexing was made.v

Later a style of index card was adopted which permitted the alteration of the index matter by providing a Celluloid tab having a pocket 25' into which index slipscould be inserted and replaced as the changes in the system re quired. f

Numerous types and styles of so-called transparent or Celluloid tab guide cards have been and are now in use; some having end opening pockets, others with slots `atthe back, and still others with slits cut in the `Celluloid over the pocket for inserting and removing the index slips or labels.

The index Card herein disclosed embodies the features of transparency and remove-bility of index slips, but with certain improved features of design calculated to simplify the Y Construction and reduce the Cost of manufacture,kas well as lto render the card more serviceable, increase the ease of removing` and .replacing the index slips and improve the v1sibility of the index matter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a View in front elevation of an index card having the improved transparent tab with the index label in place.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section through the tabbed edge of the i5 card as taken on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the card shown in Figure l 'before the Celluloid sheath is applied.

Figure 4 is a detail view vof an alternative 50 form of lindex sli Ahavin "a dark-:band across p g H its lower edge to Complete the frame around the index matter.

Figure 5 is a View in front elevation of a guide card having a tab of a somewhat modified construction.

Figure 6 is a View of the Cardshown in Fligre 5 before the Celluloid sheath is app 1e Figure 7 is a View showing alternative style of index slip that may be used with the card shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a still further modified form oftab characterized by an inclined index pocket. Y

Figure 9 is a view in vertical section through the tabbed portion of the Card as taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure l0 is a perspective view of the tab sheath before its Vapplication to the Card.

The Card l ,shown in Figure l is of the usual rectangular shape, preferably cut from a relatively heavy paper or cardboard stock such as manila, pressboard or the like, and of some light Color such as buff, and having a tab 2 at its top edge and near one end. In

the matter of dimensions, a card 6 by 4 inches would have a tab projection of, say, 378 of an inch in heightA with tapering ends rounded at top and bottom.

Incutting the Card for the tab, an extended surrounding area on both sides of the card and its tab projection 3 is a covering or sheath 5 of Celluloid or like pliable transparent sheet material. This Celluloid sheath is preferably a rectangular sheet which is initially foldedv double and then Iappliedover the tabbed edge and secured by glue or other adhesive to the front and back of the card.

As clearly shown, the celluloid sheet thus folded forms two sections, disposed on opposite sides of the card, the larger section 5 not only covering the window, but a relatively large area surrounding the window on what may be designated as the back surface of they vCelluloid sheath does not extend below the window but terminates in a straight edge subQ stantially coinciding with, and preferably spaced slightly above, the bottom edge of the window 4, thereby providing an entrance slot 6 to the pocket formed by the walls of celluloid at the front and back ofthe window opening. Y

The entrance slot thus formed extends the full length of the pocket along its lower edge, and to facilitate the insertion ofV index labels orslips the edges of the Celluloid and the window opening maybe notched centrally as at 6, 6'?y on opposite sides of the entrance slot.V The lower vnotch 6b is particularly useful as it permits a pair' of tweezers to be inserted to grip the lower edge of the index slips. c

Now, as a preferable addition to the tab construction thus far described, the area of the front face of the card' immmediately along the top and sides of the window opening 4 is colored in black or some othervdark color as shown in Figure 3, thus forming a frame around three sides of the pocket in which the index slip is held. The'dark area may be applied in any suitable manner, ythe simplest being perhaps the inking of the tab projection and adjacent area between the converging lines a, a terminating at the lower corners of the window opening.

The index slips 8 are rectangular pieces of paper cut to fit snugly in the pocket and are therefore of, substantially the same dimensions as the window. The window, it will be observed, extends some distance into the body of` the card and below the tab projection, and asa conseqeunce the entire face of the index slip is not available for the index marking but only the upper half orthe portion that projects above the mass of cards in thedrawer or tray. As a result the index marking 8 is printed on the upper half of the slip, whilev the lower portion may be plain as shown in Figure l1, or be of a solid color such as black, as shown Vin Figure 4, this wide band 8" completing the fourth and bottom side of the frame around the white or light colored `upper section bearing the printed Vin dex marking. v

The purpose of this scheme of'framing the index slip in a band of dark color is primarily for the sake of better visibility, setting o the marking so that the eye is directed to it with less effort and thus read with greater ease.

The style of card illustrated in Figure 6 is uite the same as that just described, except t at the index slip-holding pocket is formed initially by cutting a rectangular notch 9 in the tab projection and adjacent portion of the card body instead of a window opening. The application of the Celluloid cover or sheath isy the same, however, 'the only diiference being the absence of the card material across the top of the pocket so that the transparency extends to the edge of the tab when the pocket is empty and the darkened areas are limited' to the triangularly shaped atches 9a at either end. Here again, the inex slips may be varied. Thus as shown in Figure 5,'the slip 10 inserted in the pocket has a band of black 10 along its 'top edge just above the index marking 10b, and as before, it maybe plain or colored in black along the lowery section, thus framing the index symbol on three or four sides, giving the same effect as in the style of card shown in Figure 1. Again, the index slip 11 shown in Figure `7 may have a band 11a of a diiferent color such as red or green along its upper edge, which will serve as some predetermined signal or indication having to do'with the operation of the index system.

`Figures 8, 9 and 10 disclose still a further Vmodification of a vCelluloid tabbed card 12 which follows the form shown in Figure 5 in its general formation, the particular departure being the rearward inclination of the central portion of the tab.

As before, the tab projection 12 is cut to form arectangular recess 13 for the pocket, but the two layers of the Celluloid sheath lying between the two vertical edges of the recess are inclined rearwardly along a horizontal line coinciding with the top edge of the body of the card. vThe Celluloid sheath 14 is' similar to those heretofore described, with'the exception of the inclined portion 14,a sloping rearwardly at an angle of about 30 to the vertical and held rigidly by two triangular shaped transverse webs 14", 14h at each end. This style of tab sheath is preferably formed before its application toy the card, and involves the operation of bending and drawing the Celluloid into its final shape by means of dies to the form shown in Figure v10. "The index slips 15 are inserted into this type of Celluloid tab in the same manner as into the others, the upper portion of the slipV assuming the inclination ofthe rearwardly sloping portion 14 of the Celluloid, vsheath as clearly shown in Figure 9.

The several types of guide cards herein disclosed, although differing somewhat in minor details, embody the improved features in common, namely, the provision of an entrance lslot to they index holding pocket (which manifestly may be at the back as well as at the front of the card) without slotting or otherwise cutting the celluloid. This result is obtained by extending the window or recess, as the case may be, well into the body of the card, which permits the lower edge of the Celluloid sheet to form the pocket entrance and at the same time cover suiiicient of the card surface to reinforce and protect the card against wear and hard usage. Other features, such as the framing of the index slip in a dark contrasting color is an advantage from the standpoint of superior visibility, as is also the idea of coloring the index slips either to carry out the frame or as a signal or indication, by using distinctive colors other than that used for the frame.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention, Y

I claim:

l. An index card having a tab at one edge, a recess cut in said tab and extending into the body of the card, a transparent material applied over said tab and said recess on opposite sides of said card and having a lower edge terminating slightly above the lower edge of said recess, thus cooperating with said recess to form a pocket having an entrance slot along its lower edge and marginal areas of a contrasting color forming the remaining edges of said pocket.

2. An index card having a tab at its edge, a recess cut in said tab, a sheet of transparent material applied over said tab and covering said recess and having a lower edge terminating above the lower edge of said recess thus cooperating therewith to form a pocket having an entrance slot along one edge, the areas on either side of said pocket being of a contrasting color, and an index slip adapted to be inserted in said pocket and having a band of a contrasting color along one edge thereof.

3. An index card having a tab along its edge, a window cut in the body of the card and including a portion of said tab, a transparent material applied to the faces of said card to cover said window and a portion of the surrounding area of the card, said material having an edge terminating slightly above the lower edge of said window to provide an entrance to the pocket form-ed by said window and transparent material, the marginal areas along a plurality of the sides of said window on one side of the card being of a contrasting color.

il. An index card having a tab at one edge, a window cut in the body of the card and including a portion of said tab, a transparent material applied to the faces of said card to cover said window and a portion of the surrounding area of the card, said material on one side having its lower edge terminating slightly above the lower edge of said window to provide an entrance to the pocket formed by said window and said transparent material, the marginal areas around the top and sides of said window on one side of the card being of a contrasting color, and an index slip insertable in said pocket and having its lower portion of the same contrasting color to complete a colored frame around the index bearing portion of said slip.

5. An index card having a tab projection and a recess in said tab projection, a sheath of transparent sheet material covering said tab projection and enclosing said recess on opposite sides of said card, said sheath having a lower edge terminating above the lower edge of said recess to form a pocket having an entrance slot at its lower edge on one side of said card, and having only the portion includ-ed by said recess slopping at an angle to the plane of the card.

6. An index card having a tab projection and a recess cut in said tab projection and extending into the body of the card, a sheath of transparent sheet material covering said tab projection and enclosing said recess on opposite sides of said card, said sheath having a lower edge terminating above the lower edge of said recess to form a pocket having an entrance formed between substantially coincident edges of said recess and said sheath on one side of said card, only the portions of said sheath projecting from the body of the card and included between the side edges of the krecess being bent to slope at an angle to the plane of the card.

Signed at Muskegon, Mich., this 17th day of March, 1931.

RUSSELL Gr. BOURDON. 

